Kate -> RE: When is it...not Flamenco?? (Sep. 16 2005 15:02:29)
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Hi Ricardo, Just to explain what I was referring to in my post. The thread started off about 'flamenco or not' and then 'flamenco puro' entered the equation and I jumped in ( yes like a cat among the pigeons) when Miguel said it was ridiculous to try and define Flamenco puro, and I replied I thought it was a necessary distinction. This is from my perspective as a manager/agent not a guitarist. So my first comment you quote was saying it was necessary to define ' flamenco puro'. The second quote was talking about how flamenco artists in the studio when recording 'flamenco puro' take great pains to get every aspect right. I'm not sure what the contradicition was. I dont claim to understand this but my conclusion has been that we should respect this aspect of flamenco and not dismiss 'Puro' as old stuff, it still exists and if anything it is even more relevant today when groups like OdB claim ' flamenco is dead' while claiming they are now flamenco. Just like Paco said, it is possible to compose new flamenco puro. For example Emilio on his album had composed amost all of the tracks and his focus was on keeping it Puro, and yes he had bass and cajon on there but the consenus was that it was still puro. As you quite rightly say, flamenco is meant to change, it is spontaneaous, of the moment, adapted to each player, singer or performance. My definition of 'puro' would be the source, the heartbeat, the soul of flamenco. Its roots but also its blossoms and seeds. That does not make it more or less than any other flamenco style, modern, jazz, pop, but it does mean it should be cherished and recognised and not dismissed. I think among the flamencologists there has been a general consensus that Flamenco puro is being lost as the older singers go to the great juerga in the sky and the young have their eye on bigger rewards than paying their dues in Peñas. Foreign promotors want flamenco with a modern twist, lots of rythmn and little cante, less Gypsy and more ballet. Luckily I can be quite persuasive about the delights of a 'puro' performance and manage to persuade the promoters to take the risk on flamenco artists who may not have big names, big stage shows and massive record sales. I enjoy all flamenco, it is a very wide church after all, and just because we refer to 'puro flamenco' does not mean that the rest of flamenco is somehow dirty, or debased. Kate
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